Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren sounded very upbeat tonight when talking about the three-year, $12.3 million contract extension that he signed off on for starting goalie Steve Mason.

“I’m glad it’s done,” Holmgren said prior to the Flyers’ game against the New York Islanders. “I’m sure he feels the same way, to get it out of the way and move on. He needs to just worry about his job and not anything else. It’s probably good in that regard.”

Holmgren and Mason’s agent Anton Thun had been talking about another extension for the past month. Mason had signed a 1-year, $1.5 million deal last spring after being acquired from Columbus.

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Holmgren then signed free agent goalie Ray Emery to a 1-year, $1.65 million deal over the summer. But in training camp and afterward, Mason’s play designated which goalie would be the starter and which one would be the backup.

“I like our goalies this year,” Holmgren said. “They’ve been a big part of our team. With team chemistry and with the way they play and the way they compete, it’s just been a good fit.”

Holmgren has been careful to include Emery when offering public praise of his goalies. He has talked often of Emery’s performances and the way he and Mason have bonded. But with Mason locked down, the question became would Emery be allowed to pursue unrestricted free agency at season’s end without the Flyers trying to re-sign him first?

Holmgren admitted he’d had conversations with Emery’s agent J.P. Barry about an extension.

“Yeah, we’ve talked about it; I’ve talked a couple of times with his agent,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not going to get into any specifics ... because I don’t feel like it. We’ll see. I wouldn’t rule it out.”